Descriptions of Partnerships

Leading Partners in addition to LETS OPEN DOORS will be five (5) in number, representing the following categories:

1) Diseases of all kinds – Hampton Roads Parkinsons(Committed)

2) Seniors –Senior Advocate (Committed)

3) Disabilities of all kinds from Mililtary Service – Disabled American Veterans (Committed)

4) Business Associations/ Business – WHO WILL STEP FORWARD TO LEAD IN THIS CATEGORY????????

5) Healthcare Provider Facilities – One of the area’s hospitals who also have doctors’ medical offices

LEADING PARTNERS will commit to the mission of LETS OPEN DOORS in the following ways:

a) Be the steering committeefor a large major event to be designed and planned by the steering committee after a large coalition has been formed of organizations and persons advocating accessibility to goods and services; in partnership with LETS OPEN DOORS for participation of all organizations and citizens celebrating equal access to goods and services; within the guidelines of LETS OPEN DOORS by approval of its Board of Directors; to demonstrate to the Hampton Roads community the viability and reasonability of accommodating equal access as an economically sound investment for the community

b) Educate their memberships of their equal right to accessible goods and services by inviting a speaker from LETS OPEN DOORS and others to advise their members of this right and how to seek it with grace and dignity as a unified coalition

c) Provide their membership with a LETSOPEN DOORS brochure by printing or emailing to each member of their organization

e) Promote the public education of the solutions to providing equal access to goods and services by emailing/ printing and sending postcards or brochures to businesses; or, elect a method of choice (for approval by LETS OPEN DOORS) to be sent to businesses that reflect the mission of LETS OPEN DOORS.

f) Engage in strategic planning for events supporting equal access to goods and services within their own organization

g) Encourage and advocate other organizations related to their mission to join as Partners, gathering the approximate 187,000 persons in the disabled and age-related disabled community into a coalition, in support of inclusion rather than exclusion from the larger community of 1.6 million persons in Hampton Roads.

h) Work within the value system of the mission of LETS OPEN DOORS; to engage in positive discussion with dignity and respect for other viewpoints and hardships for all, including businesses, in accommodating accessible needs; to educate businesses on solutions and provide information to tax credits available for accessibility improvements to their premises; and to raise money for manual accommodations by low-income businesses that qualify.

PARTNERS

Partners will be all other organizations beyond the Leading Partners who join in the coalition to attain equal access to goods and services for all the population. PARTNERS will commit to the mission of LETS OPEN DOORS in the following ways:

a) Educate their memberships of their equal right to accessible goods and services by inviting a speaker from LETS OPEN DOORS and others to advise their members of this right and how to seek it with grace and dignity as a unified coalition

b) Provide their membership with a LETSOPEN DOORS brochure by printing or emailing to each member of their organization

d) Promote the public education of the solutions to providing equal access to goods and services by emailing/ printing and sending postcards or brochures to businesses; or, elect a method of choice (for approval by LETS OPEN DOORS) to be sent to businesses that reflect the mission of LETS OPEN DOORS.

e) Engage in strategic planning for events supporting equal access to goods and services within their own organization

f) Encourage and advocate other organizations related to their mission to join as Partners, gathering the approximate 187,000 persons in the disabled and age-related disabled community into a coalition, in support of inclusion rather than exclusion from the larger community of 1.6 million persons in Hampton Roads.

g) Work within the value system of the mission of LETS OPEN DOORS; to engage in positive discussion with dignity and respect for other viewpoints and hardships for all, including businesses in accommodating accessible needs; to educate businesses on solutions and provide information to tax credits available for accessibility improvements to their premises; and to raise money for manual accommodations by low-income businesses that qualify.

AMBASSADORS

Ambassadors are those people who volunteer as such to actively engage in speaking and sending information to organizations, businesses and the general public to join the coalition to attain equal access to goods and services for all the population.

a) Board members are automatically Ambassadors in representing LETS OPEN DOORS by speaking to groups and individuals, but anyone can also be an Ambassador.

b) An individual is an Ambassador once submitting their name online or in personal contact to LETS OPEN DOORS; agreeing to the principles of approach in its mission: positivity, grace, dignity, and kindness; and participating in an online brief workshop.